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Knee surgery
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care*
- 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’
- Appointments confirmed within 24 hours
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KNEE SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
We have one of the UK’s leading orthopaedic teams, with expert consultants from across 10 specialist fields. You’ll be cared for by a dedicated knee specialist, who will tailor your treatment to your specific injury or condition.
They’ll use the latest imaging technology to ensure accurate diagnosis, recommend an effective plan and help you get back to living your life as soon as possible.
With HCA UK, you’ll be in the safest hands. We have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK and 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they're likely to recommend us to family and friends.
They’ll use the latest imaging technology to ensure accurate diagnosis, recommend an effective plan and help you get back to living your life as soon as possible.
With HCA UK, you’ll be in the safest hands. We have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK and 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they're likely to recommend us to family and friends.
The knee is a complex joint, and there are a wide range of surgeries available, from minor repairs to total replacement. Some of the more common surgeries we carry out include:
- Total knee replacement, where your damaged or worn-out knee joint is completely replaced with an artificial one.
- Partial knee replacement, which just replaces one damaged or worn-out part of your knee joint.
- Kneecap joint replacement, which only replaces your patella or the groove in your femur that it sits in (the trochlea).
- Knee arthroscopy or keyhole surgery, where a camera is inserted via a small incision, to help diagnose or surgically treat a range of knee conditions.
- ACL reconstruction, which is keyhole surgery to repair a torn or damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with a graft of replacement tissue.
- Meniscus repair surgery, where any torn pieces of your meniscus are stitched back together, allowing it to heal, so it can continue to provide shock absorption.
- Arthroscopic meniscectomy, which is keyhole surgery to remove all or part of a damaged meniscus.
- Knee microfracture surgery, where tiny holes are made in the surface of the bone in your knee joint, which encourages new cartilage to form.
- Chondroplasty, which is keyhole surgery to smooth over damaged or loose cartilage and encourage a new cartilage surface to grow in its place.
- Knee realignment surgery, where your shinbone (tibia) or thigh bone (femur) are cut and realigned to relieve any unequal pressure on your knee.
You might need surgery if your knee’s been injured, or you have a knee condition, and non-surgical treatments such as pain medication or physiotherapy haven’t helped your symptoms.
Knee surgery can be an effective treatment for several common conditions, including:
Knee surgery can be an effective treatment for several common conditions, including:
- Knee arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Damage to the soft tissues in your knee, such as your meniscus or ACL
- Knee fractures or other injuries that have caused structural damage
- Synovitis, where the lining of your knee joint swells
Knee surgery can make a significant difference to your quality of life. It can help relieve pain, increase your range of movement, make you more stable on your feet, and enable you to stay active and independent.
The dedicated knee specialists at HCA UK have decades of experience and can recommend the most effective treatment to get you back to living your life.
The dedicated knee specialists at HCA UK have decades of experience and can recommend the most effective treatment to get you back to living your life.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist knee consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
THE KNEE SURGERY PROCESS
What to expect
We know how painful knee problems can be, which is why our consultants and multi-disciplinary teams will take the time and care to tailor your treatment to your specific needs. From the first meeting through to aftercare, you’ll be in expert hands.
01
Initial consultation
The process always begins with a GP consultation. They’ll ask you about your medical history and talk to you in detail about your knee condition, any pain you’re experiencing, and how it’s affecting your life. Depending on your situation, they might recommend medication, refer you to a physiotherapist for non-surgical treatment, or to a specialist knee consultant.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
If you’re referred to a knee consultant, they’ll physically examine your knee in detail, and they might recommend imaging tests to get a more detailed view. These could include an ultrasound or an MRI scan. You should get those results back on the same day you come in, and your consultant can use them to start making a plan for your treatment.
03
Treatment
There are many ways to treat knee conditions, depending on the physical state of your knee and how severe your symptoms are. Your specialist might recommend:
- Non-surgical management, including rest, light exercise, physiotherapy, pain gels or creams, oral pain medication or injections. Those might include steroid injections, injections of platelet-rich plasma, or Arthrosdamid, which is a gel that helps to cushion and lubricate your knee joint
- Minimally invasive keyhole surgery to repair or replace soft tissue in your knee
- Major surgery to realign bones or replace part or all of your knee joint
04
Physiotherapy aftercare
If you do have surgery, you’ll also get a detailed recovery programme tailored to your condition, your age and your overall health. This will likely include physiotherapy to help restore strength to your knee and improve your mobility.
Your consultant and the wider team will be there to support you, regularly review your progress and get you back to fully functioning as soon as possible.
Your consultant and the wider team will be there to support you, regularly review your progress and get you back to fully functioning as soon as possible.
Locations
You can access our specialist knee services at locations across London and beyond. From initial consultation through to treatment and next steps, you’ll be treated by some of the country’s most respected experts.
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Knee surgery FAQ
Most people who have knee surgery don’t suffer from any long-term complications and make a full recovery. However, all surgery comes with a risk, and knee surgery can cause the following:
- Knee stiffness or swelling
- Infection
- Allergic reactions
- Numbness in the areas around incision scars
- Formation of excess scar tissue
- Unexpected bleeding into the joint
- Blood clots
- Anaesthetic complications
- Nerve damage
There any many kinds of knee surgery, and costs can vary widely depending on the severity of your condition and the specific surgery you might need. Your consultant will be able to explain your procedure and costs in detail, so you have a full and clear picture before any treatment begins. If you require knee replacement surgery and will pay for your treatment, often referred to as self-pay, we offer fixed price packages to give you peace of mind.
Yes, in some cases. It all depends on the severity of your condition and how big an impact it’s having on your life. There are many effective non-surgical treatments that can help your knee, including:
- Physiotherapy to build strength and flexibility in your knee joint
- Weight loss
- Light exercise to improve your mobility
- Pain gels or creams
- Oral pain medication
- Steroid injections for stronger pain relief
- Bracing to keep your knee from moving awkwardly
If you have knee surgery, the procedure will always be carried out under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel anything during the surgery itself.
Afterwards, it’s likely that you’ll experience some pain or discomfort for a few days or weeks. How much depends on your condition and the specific surgery you’ve had. There can be soreness from any surgical incisions, and in the areas within the knee that were operated on.
You’ll be given all the support you need, the right pain medication and a detailed programme of recovery.
Afterwards, it’s likely that you’ll experience some pain or discomfort for a few days or weeks. How much depends on your condition and the specific surgery you’ve had. There can be soreness from any surgical incisions, and in the areas within the knee that were operated on.
You’ll be given all the support you need, the right pain medication and a detailed programme of recovery.
Your recovery time will depend on how severe your condition is, the kind of surgery you need and your age and general health, so it’s different for everybody. You should usually be able to start gently using your knee a few days after the surgery and get back to standing and walking as normal within a few weeks.
You’ll get specific and detailed advice from your consultant and the team about when you can return to more strenuous activity like sport or exercise.
You’ll get specific and detailed advice from your consultant and the team about when you can return to more strenuous activity like sport or exercise.
Our patients’ stories
From a limp to ultramarathons
In May 2022, Neil underwent a combined total knee replacement and simultaneous removal of the PVNS under the care of Mr Pollock at The Princess Grace Hospital. Initially incredibly nervous about the procedure and what his world could look like post-operation, life has completely changed.
Decades of pain, resolved in weeks
Now 46, Mike had been struggling with knee problems since he tore his right ACL during a football match at the age of 19.
Sarah-Jane’s return from knee injury
It was when she slipped on the dancefloor at an office party that 38-year-old Sarah-Jane finally realised something wasn’t right with her knee. A keen skateboarder and tennis player, Sarah-Jane had always led an active lifestyle, but never thought much about injuries.
“The surgery couldn’t have gone better. I was in absolutely no pain, and the scar that was left on my knee was so tiny in comparison to what I thought it would be. The physio that supported me after the surgery was also really impressive and had me up walking around my hospital room the very next day.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.